Antibody response to streptococcal antigens was measured by three conventional methods (ASO, AH, and ANADG) and by the new streptozyme test. Compared to the others, the streptozyme test showed a sensitivity of 73 per cent and a specificity of 90 per cent. It also detected additional cases missed by the other methods. In addition, the streptozyme test showed antibody rise earlier, after six to nine days in half of the cases. Thus, the streptozyme test is more sensitive and no less specific than any individual test and reveals antistreptococcal antibody rise earlier. These properties, together with its ease of performance and reproducibility, seem to make it the test of choice for estimation of antibody response to streptococcal infection in all circumstances where the performance of a battery of tests is impractical.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
WannamakerL. W.: Serum antibodies to streptococci in rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis and chorea. Zbl. Bakt., I. Abt Orig.214: 331, 1970.
2.
PotterE. V., SiegelA. C., SimonN. M., Mc-AninchJ., EarleD. P., Poon-KingT., MohammedI. and AbidhS.: Streptococcal infections and epidemic acute glomerulonephritis in South Trinidad. J. Pediatr.72: 871, 1968.
3.
DillonH. C. and ReevesM. S.: Streptococcal anti-body titers in skin infection and AGN. Pediatr. Res.3: 362, 1969.
4.
OfekI., FleidermanS., Bergner-RabinowitzS. and GinsbergI.: Application of enzyme production properties in subtyping of group A streptococci according to T type. Appl. Microbiol.22: 748, 1971.
5.
AyoubE. M. and WannamakerL. W.: Strepto-coccal antibody titers in Syndenham's chorea. Pediatrics38: 946, 1966.
6.
StollermanG. H. and PearceI. A.: The changing epidemiology of rheumatic fever and acute glomerulonephritis. Adv. Intern. Med.14: 201, 1968.
7.
JaneffJ., JaneffD., TarantaA. and CohenH.: A screening test for streptococcal exoenzymes. Lab. Med.2: 38, 1971.
8.
KleinG. C. and JonesW. L.: Comparison of the streptozyme test with the antistreptolysin O, antideoryribonuclease B and antihyaluronidase. Appl. Microbiol.21: 257, 1971.
9.
CollinsO. D.: Antistreptolysin O determination by sheep cell agglutination. Am. J. Clin. Pathol.57: 598, 1972.
10.
Bergner-RabinowitzS., OfekI., FliedermanS., ZoharM. and GinsburgI.: The immune response in streptococcal pyodermal nephritis as measured by streptozyme and antistreptolysin O test. (to be published)
11.
StollermanG. H.: Streptococcal antibodies in the diagnosis of rheumatic fever. Laboratory diagnostic procedures in the rheumatic diseases. (CohenA. S., Ed.), Boston, Little, Brown and Co., 1967, pp. 168–215.
12.
GlezenW. P., DeWaltJ. L., LindsayR. L. and DillonH. C.: Epidemic pyoderma caused by nephritogenic streptococci in college athletes. Lancet1: 301, 1972.
13.
WannamakerL. W. and AyoubE. M.: Antibody titers in acute rheumatic fever. Criculation21: 598, 1960.
14.
KaplanE. L., FranklinH. T., DuddingB. A. and WannamakerL. W.: Diagnosis of streptococcal pharyngitis: differentiation of active infection from the carrier state in the symptomatic child. J. Infect. Dis.123: 490, 1971.
15.
Khoury, S.A. : Isoniazid prophylaxis in a slum area. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.99: 345, 1969.
16.
Lincoln, E.M. and Gilbert, L.A.: Disease in children due to mycobacteria other than Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.105: 683, 1972.
17.
Mackellar, A., Hilton, H.B. and Master, P.L.: Mycobacterial lymphadenitis in childhood . Arch. Dis. Child.42: 70, 1967.
18.
Mount, F.W. and Ferebee, S.H.: Preventive effeets of isoniazid in treatment of primary tuberculosis in children. N. Engl. J. Med.265: 713, 1961.
19.
Rosenthal, S.R.: The disk-tine tuberculin test. JAMA177: 196, 1961.
20.
Salyer, K.E. , Votteler, T.P. and Dorman, G.W.: Surgical management of cervical adenitis due to atypical mycobacteria in children. JAMA204: 1037, 1968.
21.
Yamamoto, M. : Diagnostic criteria for disease caused by atypical mycobacteria. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.96: 773, 1967.
22.
American Thoracic Society: Tuberculosis eradication program. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.99: 826, 1969.
23.
American Thoracic Society: The tuberculin skin test. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.104: 769, 1971.
24.
National Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease Association, N. Y. Diagnostic Standards and Classification of Tuberculosis, 1969.
25.
Edwards, L.B. and Palmer, C.E.: Isolation of "atypical" mycobacteria from healthy persons. Am. Rev. Resp. Dis.80: 747, 1959.
